We've tried
to write this book in such a way that it can't be used easily as
a "how-to" manual for potential system crackers. Don't buy this
book if you are looking for hints on how to break into systems.
If you are a system cracker, consider applying your energy and creativity
to solving some of the more pressing problems facing us all, rather
than creating new problems for overworked computer users and administrators. Breaking
into computer systems is not proof of special ability, and breaking
into someone else's machine to demonstrate a security problem is
nasty and destructive, even if all you do is "look around."
The names of systems and accounts in this book are for example
purposes only. They are not meant to represent any particular machine
or user. We explicitly state that there is no invitation for people
to try to break into the authors' or publisher's computers or the
systems mentioned in this text. Any such attempts will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law, whenever possible. We realize
that most of our readers would never even think of behaving this
way, so our apologies to you for having to make this point.
